Scholar Performance
Tessa was featured with her chamber group on the national radio program 'From the Top'.
Kelley Johnson
“Rather than working long-term abroad, I see myself as an advocate for the African immigrant and refugee community in the United States. I believe that it will be African people as opposed to foreign aid workers who will make the biggest difference in Africa’s future.”
- Alumni of: 2006 Graduate Scholarship Program
- Resides: Chicago, IL
- Hometown: St. Charles, IL
- Age: 29
- Four-year College or University: Luther College
- Graduate School: Loyola University Chicago
- Academic/Career Pursuits: International NGO/Relations, Languages, Nonprofits, Public Policy, Public Services, Social Science / Anthropology
- Other Interests: Church / Religious Organization, Foreign Languages / International Study, Literature, Sports, Volunteer Work, Dance, Music
Biography
Kelley Johnson, who received a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship for college, is seen by her professors as having a genius for serving marginalized populations through sociological expertise and empowering service. She does it with minimal sociological jargon and maximum empowering help, which equips community members “to enact the change they want to see in their lives.”
As an Americorps VISTA volunteer coordinator in Chicago, Kelley helped refugees who fled war in Africa get reoriented and connected after arrival in the United States. She then led an effort to help nearly 50 families displaced by Hurricane Katrina find mentors and sponsors who could help them rebuild their lives with dignity. A undergraduate semester abroad in Senegal and immersion in that culture had opened her eyes to the negatives of the “busyness” of life back home. She began to value supportive relationships more than constant activities.
When Kelley returned from Senegal, she looked hard at her ability to adapt to new situations and her passion for connecting people. “I feel called to use this gift to serve as a bridge person; connecting people across cultural barriers or the dividing lines of race and class, in both my professional and personal lives.” Her definition of service for those far from home now takes the form of “hospitality and investment in relationships,” to help “create a safe space for them to learn and explore their gifts.”
Other Scholars Like Kelley
Kamal Abuarquob
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Hart Feuer
Graduate Scholar
University of Bonn / Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Christopher Fields
Graduate Scholar
Washington and Lee University
Luke McLaurin
Graduate Scholar
Washington University in St. Louis